My Watch by Mark Twain. Short summary

5 seconds

The author took the watch to a watchmaker to set the exact time. After that, the movement deteriorated. The author spent more to fix it than the cost of a new watch.

1 minute

The author had a watch that he was happy with. The chronometer measured time accurately. But one day the author forgot to wind the watch, and it stopped. The owner started the clock and went to the watchmaker to set the time accurately.

The watchmaker, however, removed the case and told him that the movement needed to be cleaned and lubricated. After that, the watch began to rush. He took the watch to another watchmaker. After the repair the watch began to run behind.

As a result, the author was late with repayment of the loans and had to pay interest. In addition, he was late for trains and meetings.

As a result of the new repair, the minute and hour hands became stuck together. The next craftsman gave the watch the recoil of an old-fashioned shotgun. In order to carry the watch in his pocket, it was necessary to put absorbent cotton there.

The author estimated that the watch had cost him $300, while he had already charged $1,500 to repair it. He gave the new watchmaker another chance. But the result of his work did not satisfy the author, and he killed the negligent craftsman.